Bill Validation and Cash Dispensing Device, System and Method for Use in a Casino Context

ABSTRACT

Devices, systems and methods are provided to enable casino operators to provide printed tangible items for patron uses, such as lottery tickets. Such embodiments accept tangible indicators of financial consideration from patrons, such as currency or tickets associated with certain verifiable values, such as valid and winning lottery tickets and other forms of consideration which a patron can provide to a casino in exchange for one or more points.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/398,456, filed Sep. 22, 2016, andentitled “Bill Validation and Cash Dispensing Device, System and Methodfor Use in a Casino Context,” the contents of which are incorporated byreference as if fully disclosed herein.

FIELD

The technology described herein relates to devices, systems, and methodsfor use in validating bills and other forms of tickets, dispensing cashand providing other related transactions using casino gaming systems andmachines. The technology described herein also relates to backendsystems for use in validating the recognition and awarding of credits,points, and other forms of digital currencies in a casino environment.The technology described herein also relates to the use ofcommunications systems, devices, and methods for exchanging digital databetween servers utilized in casino gaming environments, gaming machines,printers, validators, third party systems and servers and othercomponents interconnected therewith.

BACKGROUND

The operations of casinos, gaming devices and gaming systems aretypically tightly regulated by local, state and federal authorities.These regulations generally require a casino to maintain accuraterecords regarding every transaction that arises by, in or through thecasino and to maintain positive levels of control over the currencytransactions. For example, casinos commonly include gaming machines,such as slot machines, gaming tables or other devices, services orsystems that are required by regulators to record every providing ofcash thereto. Cash as used herein commonly and collectively refers toany form of financial consideration, such as currency bills issued by agovernmental entity, bank credits, house credits, pre-paid accounts,such as those provided by PAYPAL™ and any other form of commonlyrecognized and transferable denominations of financial value. A casinopatron typically exchanges cash to a casino in exchange for theopportunity of such patron (or others they may designate) to experienceone or more games, products or other services provided directly orindirectly by the casino.

To facilitate the tracking and auditing of such transactions and thetransfers of cash, casino system operators today often utilize pointbased “cards,” such TITO (“ticket in, ticket out”) cards. A TITO cardessentially associates a given point value with a bearer of such card.The bearer may utilize known security techniques, such as pins andbiometrics, to limit access and use of a TITO card. To use a TITO card,a patron will typically fund an account associated with the TITO card byexchanging cash for casino “points,” where the casino points may beparticular to and/or redeemable by and usable at a given casino orassociated with respect to one or more designated casino(s) or othergoods or services providers designated by or associated with a casino.Likewise, a patron may convert “points” into “cash” at the patron'srequest. The exchange of “cash” for “points” and vice versa may occur atbooths, at gaming machines themselves, on-line or otherwise. Regardlessof how such transactions occur, gaming regulations require a tracking ofeach point at each instance in a transaction flow including from theinstance at which a point is generated (in exchange for cash), utilized(for example, with the playing of a slots game) and/or reconverted intocash or some other form of consideration provided to a patron.

Casino operators are also commonly required to comply with various taxlaws and regulations, which often impose specific reportingrequirements. Such reporting requirements often require the casinooperator to generate and provide to a player various tax forms regardinga player's winnings. An operator must also report such tax forms to thetaxing or other regulatory authority. For example, in the United States,the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) requires an IRS form W-2G to begenerated, provided to the player and reported to the IRS whenever aplayers' winnings from gambling activities exceed certain amounts, suchas with some jackpots. Other tax forms may be required by the IRS,states, and other U.S. and non-U.S. government authorities. Thegeneration of these tax and other forms today commonly requires thepresence and assistance of a qualified casino employee at the locationin the casino where the “winning” event occurred, e.g., the hitting of aslot machine jackpot by a player. The time during which such tax andother forms are generated commonly results in the gaming machine beingout of commission. Accordingly, the generation of tax and otherreporting forms is today a manual and time intensive endeavor for casinooperators.

Typically, point tracking occurs at numerous points in a casino,including for example, in a master casino tracking system, in a slotmanagement system (when slot machines are utilized for any given point),in TITO management systems, in Point of Sale Systems (such as those usedby restaurants and retail stores located within or associated with acasino), in Property Management Systems (such as those used for lodging,recreation and similar casino related operations), at individualelectronic gaming machines (“EGMs”) and otherwise. Essentially, anydevice or system involved in the granting, redeeming, transfer, or useof points is typically required to track each point that such device orsystem “touches.” Accordingly, these requirements impose a high layer ofcomplexity and tracking on casino games and systems.

One approach for addressing these concerns has involved the use of SlotMachine Interface Boards (“SMIBs”). A SMIB commonly enables an EGM tocommunicate with one or more casino system servers over a network.Historically, SMIBs have provided limited functionality and limitedconnectivity between EGMs and other casino server systems. Commonapproaches often involve the use of legacy technologies, such as thosethat serially interconnect devices and systems using low bandwidthprotocols which often do not allow data transmission rates exceeding the19-20 Kbs range.

Further, when a dispute arises between any given EGM's accounting for agiven credit and a backend system's accounting for such credit, thebackend system typically will override the EGM's accounting. Thesearchitectural constraints, in turn, add to the complexity of operatingcasino systems and create inefficiencies and disputes, with suchdisputes often requiring the considerable time and attention of casinooperators. Such disputes often may result in EGMs being inoperative fora given time while such disputes are being resolved thus impacting thepatron's perception of the casino and the casino's bottom-line throughreduced gameplay. Such systems commonly do not facilitate the providingof Internet and “app” type experiences most smart-phone and tabletcomputing device users have come to seek and expect.

Recently, systems have been developed which seek to provide greaterfunctionalities in a gaming environment. One example of such a system isthe Promotional Coupon System (“PCS”) described in U.S. Pat. No.8,419,532. Per this system, a PCS server is communicatively coupled to agame voucher printer capable of printing coupons targeted to a user of agiven EGM. These types of systems, however, have been limited in thetype of information capable of being communicated to an EGM forpresentation to a patron thereof in a tangible form as well as in thepresenting of options for additional services to such patron.

Likewise, today EGMs are typically connected to a bill validator typedevice. Such devices are commonly configured to accept currencies from apredetermined issuer thereof, such as the United States Treasury oranother national governing body, determine the value of suchpre-designated currency, communicate such value to the EGM and to acasino management system which associate one or more points to thepatron bearing a TITO or similar card. Commonly available bill validatorsystems, however, are not readily adaptable. For example, convertingfrom US currency denominations to another government's currencydenominations often requires manual reconfiguring of an EGM's firmware,or other computer code, and such bill validator systems commonly do notaccept other forms of consideration or indicators of financialconsiderations, such as lottery tickets.

Thus, a need exists for devices, systems and methods which areadaptable, accountable, and manageable by casino operators in theproviding of printed tangible items for patron uses, such as lotterytickets, W-2G tax forms, as well as the acceptance of tangibleindicators of financial consideration from patrons, as provided forexample in the forms of varying currencies, tickets associated withcertain verifiable values, such as valid and winning lottery tickets andother forms of consideration which a patron can provide to a casino inexchange for one or more points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, aspects, advantages, functions, components, devices,systems, and methods provided by the various embodiments of the presentdisclosure are further disclosed herein with regard to at least one ofthe following descriptions and accompanying drawing figures.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a casino system configured foruse in accordance with at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a print sequence implementedin accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process by which a printer isvalidated by a print driver in accordance with at least one embodimentof the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a casino system configured foruse with an electronic gaming machine (“EGM”) configured to communicatewith one or more casino system servers using Ethernet and comparablenetworking technologies in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of a visual display providing apremium feature user interface for use in conjunction with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a validator enablementprotocol sequence, whereby a validator may seek enablement and/orre-enablement from an Enhanced Services system server or application, inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process by which a lottery premiumfeature may be utilized in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments described herein are directed to devices,systems and methods which are adaptable, accountable, and manageable bycasino operators in the providing of printed tangible items for patronuses, such as lottery tickets, as well as the acceptance of tangibleindicators of financial consideration from patrons, as provided forexample in the forms of varying currencies, tickets associated withcertain verifiable values, such as valid and winning lottery tickets andother forms of consideration which a patron can provide to a casino inexchange for one or more points.

As shown in FIG. 1 and for at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, a system 100 disclosed herein includes an EGM 102 that iscommunicatively coupled to a peripheral controller 104 (such as a SMIBor similar device), a printer 106 and a validator 108. The EGM 102 iscommunicatively coupled to the printer 106 using a primary printer port110 and to the validator 108 using a primary validator port 112. Theperipheral controller 104 is communicatively coupled to the printer 106using a secondary printer port 111 and to the validator 108 using asecondary validator port 113. In at least one embodiment, each of theEGM 102, peripheral controller 104, printer 106 and validator 108 areprovided in a single gaming cabinet 114.

It is to be appreciated that the communications paths and/or linkagesutilized to communicatively couple each of the EGM 102, peripheralcontroller 104, printer 106 and validator 108 to any other component ordevice may utilize any desired medium, such as copper wire, printedcircuit boards, optical cables, wireless pathways or otherwise. In atleast one embodiment, RS-232 compatible communication components areutilized to communicatively couple the EGM 102 to at least one of theperipheral controller 104, the printer 106, and the validator 108. In atleast one embodiment, universal serial bus compatible communicationcomponents are utilized to communicatively couple the peripheralcontroller 104 with at least one of the printer 106 and the validator108. In other embodiments, any known or hereafter developedcommunications components may be utilized to communicatively couple anyof a first of the components of the gaming cabinet 114 with any one ormore of a second of the components of the gaming cabinet 114. Further,in at least one embodiment, the communications components utilized tocommunicatively couple a printer 106 or a validator 108 to each of theEGM 102 and the peripheral controller 104 may utilize a single mediumwith the data signals communicated between such devices being separated,interleaved, addressed, or otherwise communicated. In short, any knownor hereafter communications technologies may be used to communicativelycouple one or more gaming cabinet 114 components with a second or moregaming cabinet 114 components. Such technologies may also be configured,as desired for any given embodiment, to facilitate the removal andreplacement of any given gaming cabinet 114 components as such needs mayarise, for example for repair, updating or otherwise.

It is also to be appreciated that while depicted in FIG. 1 or elsewherein conjunction with the various embodiments described herein, thecomponents of gaming cabinet 114 may be provided internal or external tothe gaming cabinet 114 and may exist as any desired combination ofhardware and software elements. It is to be appreciated that certain ofsuch hardware and/or software elements may exist virtually and mayutilize hardware and software components that may be utilized by anotherof the gaming cabinet 114 components.

Gaming cabinet 114 may be configured to include other components whichare not shown in FIG. 1. Examples of such other components include butare not limited to TITO and similar card readers, dispensers of items,such as beverage dispensers, user interface components, mobile deviceinterconnection components, such as BLUETOOTH™, WIFI, NCF, cellular, andother known and/or later to be discovered wire or wirelesscommunications protocols, devices, and systems and otherwise. Such otherdevices may be communicatively coupled to one or more of the EGM 102,peripheral controller 104, printer 106, validator 108, and other devicessuch as a patron's smart-phone, as desired for any given implementationof one or more of the present embodiments.

EGM 102 may be configured to provide any desired patron/user experience.For example, in one embodiment EGM 102 may be a slot machine whichprovides several rotating elements, where upon the alignment of one ormore of such elements, one or more prizes and/or awards are earned bythe patron. In other embodiments, EGM 102 may involve any other form ofgame of chance, such as a video poker game, a turn-based game (such asMONOPOLY™) or any other game or user experience. In at least oneembodiment, EGM 102 may not involve any aspect of a game of chance andinstead may involve the participation in activities desired by a patron,such as, for example, the opportunity to participate in a singingcompetition, the opportunity to view a video event or otherwise. EGM 102can provide any type of user desired interactive experience. EGM 102 mayinclude any desired hardware and software components, the type, andcapabilities of which are beyond the scope of the present disclosure.

Peripheral controller 104 may be configured to operate as a smart devicewith respect to one more components of the gaming cabinet 114, whereinthe peripheral controller 104 itself executes one or moresoftware/logical programs, controls and/or permits the operation of theprinter 106 and/or validator 108 or otherwise attends to the operationof one or more functions provided by the system 100. In anotherembodiment, peripheral controller 104 may be configured to operate as apass-through type device with respect to one or more components of thegaming cabinet 114, wherein the peripheral controller 104 essentiallyacts as a router or hub by which communications by and between gamingcabinet 114 components, such as EGM 102, printer 106 and validator 108,and external components are routed and directed. In yet anotherembodiment, the peripheral controller 104 may not physically exist in agaming cabinet 114. Instead, those features and functions desired to beprovided by the peripheral controller 104 in either the smart device orin the pass-through device configurations may be provided with respectto one more other gaming cabinet 114 components, as hardware, softwareor a combination thereof within an EGM 102, a printer 106, a validator108, or other gaming cabinet 114 components. It is also to beappreciated that the hardware and/or software providing the features andfunctions of the peripheral controller 104 in either of the smart deviceand/or pass-through device configurations may be provided in othercasino system 132 components, for example, as a virtual machineoperating in the casino management system 118.

When configured in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure as a smart device, the peripheral controller 104 maybe configured to be communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly tothe Enhanced Services system 128, as described further below, so thatthe peripheral controller 104 has direct access to the various premiumfeatures, as discussed below, of the system 100. In furtherance of sucha system configuration, the peripheral controller 104 may be configuredwith one or more drivers and/or application program interfaces whichenable the peripheral controller 104 to control one or more features andfunctions of one or more of the printer 106 and the validator 108.

When configured in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure as a pass-through device, peripheral controller 104may be configured to enable the Enhanced Services system 128 tocommunicate with and control the operation of at least one of theprinter 106 and the validator 108. In accordance with at least oneembodiment, such control of the printer 106 and/or the validator 108 mayutilize the secondary printer port 111 and the secondary validator port113, respectively. As configured as a pass-through device, theperipheral controller 104 may be further configured to pass datamessages between the Enhanced Services system 128 and one or more of theprinter 106 and validator 108. It is also to be appreciated that acasino system 132 may include two or more gaming cabinets 114, with eachof such gaming cabinets having the same or different components thereof.As such, a first gaming cabinet may utilize a peripheral controller insmart-device mode of operation, while a second gaming cabinet mayutilize a second peripheral controller in a pass-through mode ofoperation, while a third gaming cabinet may provide the features andfunctions of a peripheral controller in an EGM itself. Further, it is tobe appreciated that a peripheral controller may be configured, inaccordance with at least one embodiment, to provide a first mode ofoperation, i.e., smart device, pass-through or non-existent, at a firstinstance in time or with respect to a first gaming cabinet component,while being configurable to operate in accordance with a second mode ofoperation at a second instance in time or with respect to a secondgaming cabinet component.

The Enhanced Services system 128 may be configured to support anydesired level of tax, regulatory, or other reporting and compliancerequirements (collectively, “tax reporting requirements”). It is to beappreciated that tax reporting requirements may vary by authority, typeof game played, player nationalities, where game played, and otherwise.The Enhanced Services system 128 may be configured to account for suchvariances in tax reporting requirements based on player or any otherfactor. The Enhanced Services system 128 may be configured to interfacewith printer 106, validator 108, EGM 102, player's mobile devices, othercasino system servers and third-party servers, including but not limitedto those provided by the IRS and other governmental and/or other bodies,to facilitate and support any such tax reporting requirements. Forexample, when preparing a U.S. I.R.S. W-2G form for presentation to aplayer, the system 100 may be configured to utilize a player databaseprovided by a casino system server, such as a casino management server118 to obtain information regarding a player. Such information mayinclude social security, address, state of residence, nationality,citizenship/residency status and any other information needed to prepareand present the form, such as a W-2G form, to the player.

Printer 106 may be configured to operate in accordance with one or moresystem protocols. Such protocols may be configured, for example, togovern when a printer can and cannot be utilized. One or moreembodiments of such system protocols are discussed below. Printer 106may also be configured to print or otherwise produce for access by apatron any desired tangible item. In at least one embodiment, such atangible item is a “ticket”, such as a lottery ticket, a movie ticket, acoupon, or the like. In another embodiment, a “ticket” may include aW-2G or other document necessitated by one or more tax reportingrequirements. Such tickets may be “printed” on paper, plastic or anyother substrate. The printing of such a “ticket” may include theimplantation or coding of electromagnetic, optical, radio frequency,humanly perceptible, combinations thereof and/or other forms ofinformation conveyances. For example, a “ticket” may include one or moreelectrical devices and/or structures into which data can be stored andlater accessed by other systems having compatible readers. Examples ofsuch data storage and productions systems include but are not limited toRadio-Frequency identification (RFID) tags and other tags. Printer 106may also be configured to print other, non-ticket type items, such asvia the use of 3D printing technologies. It is to be appreciated thatone or more such “tickets” may also be “printed” virtually, such as byproviding and electronic file transfer of a suitable formatted andcompleted ticket to a player's or other entities' designated storagedevice. For example, tickets required by one or more tax reportingrequirements may be virtually printed to one or more of a casinosystem's data storage devices, to an IRS communicatively coupled server,and to a player's designated storage device, such as a data storagelocation on a player's smartphone or like device, onto a flash drive,into a cloud storage location, such as those provided by BOX, DROPBOX,GOOGLE Docs and others, or otherwise.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, printer 106 may beconfigured to utilize one or more templates when printing tickets. Forexamples, a printer may be configured with templates for W-2G forms andother forms necessitated by one or more tax reporting requirements.Information utilized to populate a given form may be obtained from anycommunicatively coupled system or server, such as a casino managementserver 118 or a third party server. Such templates may be preloaded ontoa printer 106, provided real-time by an Enhanced Services system 128server, the Enhanced Services system 128 server being discussed infurther detail below, bulk downloaded or otherwise made available foruse by a given printer 106. It is to be appreciated that the templatesutilized and tickets printed in accordance with such templates may bestandardized or customized for one or more printers, casino systems,type of tickets or otherwise. At least one embodiment includes the useof a printer 106 whose operating software and other routines and/orfunctions provided by printer 106 may be upgraded and/or downloaded froma casino system 132 server, such as Enhanced Services system 128 server.A printer 106 may be identified by a unique identifier, such as anetwork address, a device hardware identifier, a unique sequence ofnumbers, by a group, such as a grouping of two or more printers in acasino system 132, or otherwise. A printer 106 may be configured toaccumulate, monitor, and provide various metrics about printer usageincluding, for example, usage data, type of tickets generated, health,toner or similar ink status, paper status or other parameters commonlyused to monitor printers in casino systems.

Validator 108 may be configured to operate in accordance with one ormore system protocols. Such protocols may be configured, for example, togovern when a validator can and cannot be utilized. One or moreembodiments of such system protocols are discussed below. Validator 108may be configured to detect the presence of any desired form of “ticket”or other provisioning of data. In at least one embodiment, validator 108may be configured to receive information printed onto a ticket usingknown techniques. By way of illustration only and not by means oflimitation, examples of such techniques include two-dimensional barcodes, QR codes, data matrices, digital paper codes, visible andinvisible watermarks, magnetically encoded information and otherwise. Inat least one embodiment, validator 108 may be configured to receiveother forms of information provided on “tickets” such as a patron'ssignature, a code or other identifier provided by a patron. Validator108 may be configured to include optical character recognitioncapabilities, pattern recognition capabilities and other forms of signaland character processing technologies. Validator 108 may be configuredto receive data communicated by means of electrical, optical and/orradio frequency signals, such as near field communication (NFC) signals,Wi-Fi signals, and using other known technologies. It is to beappreciated that any known device may provide such data. Examples ofsuch devices include RFID tags, smart phone systems and others.Validator 108 may be configured to determine, based on the origin and/ortype of information received from a given ticket or device providing thesame, where such information is to be communicated. For example, inaccordance with at least one embodiment, the insertion of a currencyinto validator 108, validator 108 may be configured to verify theauthenticity of such currency and, when authentic, communicate theissuing authority, amount, and any other desired information to EGM 102.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, validator 108 may beconfigured to include one or more premium features. Such configurationsmay be managed using an Enhanced Services system 128 server, a casinomanagement system 118 having Enhanced Services system 128 capabilitiesor otherwise. In accordance with at least one embodiment, a premiumfeature provided by a validator 108 may include the capability toreceive, validate and accept currencies provided in multiple currencies,and communicate to the casino management system 118 the issuingauthority and type, e.g., U.S. dollars versus British Pounds Sterling,and the value of the currencies received. The validator 108 separately,or in conjunction with the Enhanced Services system 128 and/or thecasino management system 120, may be configured to customize thecurrency exchange rates utilized, prizes awarded as based upon a desiredcurrency, provide currency conversions with or without a markup andother financial transactions. The validator 108 and system 100 may alsobe configured to consider differences in currency exchange rates, aplayer's native currency (i.e., the primary currency utilized where theyreside), the amount won in the currency local to the casino and otherfactors in determining amounts to record and/or report in compliancewith one or more tax reporting requirements. It is to be appreciatedthat the features provided may be standardized or customized for one ormore validators, casino systems, type of currencies received orotherwise. Validators may also be customized to receive and recognizeone or more tickets, such as lottery tickets, coupons, cashier's checks,or otherwise. Such customization may occur under the direction anddirect or indirect control of an Enhanced Services system 128 server, acasino management system server 118, a combination of the foregoing orotherwise. At least one embodiment includes the use of a validator 108whose operating software and other routines and/or functions provided byvalidator 108 may be upgraded and/or downloaded from a casino system 132server, such as Enhanced Services system server 128. A validator 108 maybe identified by a unique identifier, such as a network address, adevice hardware identifier, unique sequence of numbers, by a group, suchas a grouping of two or more validators 108 in a casino system 132, orotherwise. A validator 108 may be configured to accumulate, monitor, andprovide various metrics about validator usage including, for example,usage data, type of tickets received, types of currencies received,device health, status, or other parameters commonly used to monitorvalidators in casino systems. For at least one embodiment, validator 108may be configured to provide back-tracing capabilities which enable acasino operator using, for example, an Enhanced Services system server128 and/or a casino management system 118 server, to obtain banknotesignatures, serial number optical character recognition (OCR) and forback-tracing an inserted banknote to a specific player. In accordancewith such an embodiment, casino system 132 may be utilized to monitorand deter the use of forged currencies and other illicit negotiableinstruments.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, validator 108 may beconfigured to include an Image Correction and Enhancement (ICE)component. The ICE component may be configured to provide for advancedcharacter recognition capabilities that may be uniquely associated withunique and/or generic brands of validators, such as the iVIZIONvalidator provided by Japan Cash Machine Co., Ltd.

Peripheral controller 104 is communicatively coupled to a first network116. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the first network 116may be utilized exclusively by the casino such that it is physicallyclosed, logically closed, such as by firewalls and closed data ports, orotherwise sealed partially to wholly to the transmission and/orreception of external data communications. The first network 116 mayutilize any known or later arising networking technology. The firstnetwork 116 may include and utilize local area networks, wide areanetworks, the Internet, or any other communications configuration,topologies, mediums, protocols, and technologies.

The first network 116 communicatively interconnects one or more servers,databases, devices and/or systems utilized by a casino for itsoperations, accounting, reporting, marketing, management, sales andotherwise. Examples of such servers include casino management system118, casino management system 120, TITO system 122, property managementsystem 124, point of sale system 126 and Enhanced Services system 128.

It is to be appreciated that the storage and/or communication of data byand between any of the components of system 100 may be encrypted. Anydesired single or combination of encryption technologies may be utilizedby system 100 components, including but not limited to the use of securesocket layers, virtual private networking, public/private keys, 256-bitencryption algorithms or other known or later arising encryptionalgorithms, techniques and technologies.

It is also to be appreciated that in accordance with at least oneembodiment, any two or more of the networked system components, such asthe casino management system 118 server and the Enhanced Services system128 server may be logically, physically, or virtually directlycommunicatively coupled. Such couplings may include the use of one ormore application program interfaces (APIs), such that API calls betweenany two given server components may be utilized to authorize, access,control or otherwise manage one or more premium services provided by thesystem.

As further shown in FIG. 1 for at least one embodiment, the system 100may include the use of one or more second networks 130. Such secondnetworks 130 may utilize any desired data communication technologies,protocols, mediums, and topologies. In accordance with at least oneembodiment, the second network 130 is the Internet. The second network130 may be configured to communicatively connect the casino system 130with one or more third party systems, as represented by one or morethird party servers, such as lottery server 134, pari-mutual server 136,marketing server 138, and fantasy sports server 140. The second network130 may also be configured to communicatively connect the casino system130 with servers operated by the IRS and other entities and inaccordance with one or more tax reporting requirements. It is to beappreciated that the services provided by one or more of suchthird-party systems and servers may be provided by the casino system 132as a premium feature to a patron using an EMG 102.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a sequence 200 for printing of a ticket, such asa coupon, by printer 106 is shown. This sequence generally begins atOperation 202 with a patron (a “player”) interacting with the EGM 102.For example, a player may request the printing of a coupon offered tothem for printing at the gaming cabinet 114 or otherwise.

In Operation 204, when a peripheral controller 104 is present in thesystem 100, in either a smart-device or pass-through configuration, theplayer's request is processed by the EGM 102 into a first playeractivity message. The first player activity message is configured forcommunication to the peripheral controller 104 over a pre-existingcommunications path connecting the EGM 102 to the peripheral controller104. It is to be appreciated that the first player activity message andany other messages utilized by the system 100 may be sent encrypted orin the clear, compressed or uncompressed, or in accordance with any datatransmission protocols utilized by a given gaming system and/or a gamingcabinet. When a peripheral controller 104 is not present in the gamingcabinet, Operation 204 is bypassed and the process continues withOperation 206.

In Operation 206, a second player activity message is communicated fromthe peripheral controller 104 (when present in a given gaming cabinet114) or by the EGM 102 (when the EGM 102 connects directly to the firstnetwork 116), over the first network 116 to the casino management system118.

In Operation 208, upon receipt of the second player activity message,the casino management system 118 executes one or more rules engines.These rules engines may provide for any desired processing andrewarding, or denying, of coupon requests. For example, a rules engine,in response to a player request for a drink coupon, may be configured toaward the coupon based upon any parameter, such as amount wagered,player characteristics, floor (in)activity or any other parameter. Basedupon the determinations of the rules engine, the casino managementsystem 118 may deny, approve a modified coupon (perhaps one with adiscount or percentage off on a drink), or approve the player's request.

In Operation 210, when a player request is awarded in whole or in part,the casino management system 118 generates a create coupon message 210.This message 210 is communicated by the casino management system 118 tothe Enhanced Services system 128 server over one or more of the abovedescribed networks. It is to be appreciated that when the casinomanagement system 118 and the Enhanced Services system 128functionalities are provided by virtually distinct, rather thanphysically distinct, servers messaging between such virtual devices mayoccur without utilizing the first network 116. Additionally, and oftendepending on the type of gameplay and/or amount and type of coupon orother consideration awarded by a casino to a player, additional ticketsmay be generated and/or printed. Such tickets may include thosenecessary to comply with one or more tax reporting requirements.

In Operation 212, a printer validation operation is performed by eitherthe printer driver provided in a peripheral controller 104 configured asa smart-device, or by the Enhanced Services system server 128 wheneither the peripheral controller 104 is configured as a pass-throughdevice or the peripheral controller 104 is not utilized in a gamingcabinet 114. This printer validation operation is described in greaterdetail below for at least one embodiment in conjunction with the processflow shown in FIG. 3. In essence, the printer validation operation 212confirms that a given printer 106 is both properly configured, forexample, with the desired template, and is licensed by the EnhancedServices system 128 server. When the printer 106 is verified as beinglicensed and configured as desired for a given print request, theprocess continues with Operation 214.

In Operation 214 a and 214 b, a print coupon message is communicatedfrom the print driver in the validating device (such as the peripheralcontroller 104 or the Enhanced Services system 128 server) to theprinter 106. It is to be appreciated that when the peripheral controller104 is providing the print driver functionalities, Operation 214 a isnot executed and the process proceeds only with Operation 214 b beingexecuted. Contrarily, when the Enhanced Services system 128 server isproviding the print driver functionalities, Operations 214 a and 214 bare both executed with either the peripheral controller 104 or the EGM102 operating as a receive and forward, i.e., pass-through, device.

Upon receiving the print coupon message, the printer 106 executes thecommand and prints the approved and validated coupon, as per Operation216. For at least one embodiment printer 106 may be configured tomonitor the quality of a printing or may be configured to permitre-printing of a coupon or other ticket, as based upon player request orotherwise. Once the printing of a ticket is complete, the processcontinues with Operation 218.

In Operations 218 a and 218 b, the printer 106 communicates with theprint driver that the coupon has been communicated. As per above, thecommunication of messages 218 a and 218 b depend upon which systemcomponent is providing the print driving capabilities. When suchfunctions are provided by the peripheral controller 104, message 218 bis not communicated. Contrarily, when such functions are provided by theEnhanced Services system 128 server, both messages 218 a and 218 b arecommunicated by and between the peripheral controller 104 (if one ispresent) and the Enhanced Services system 128 server.

In Operation 220, the print driver completes this sequence bycommunicating a second coupon created message to the casino managementsystem 118 server which processes such message in accordance with othercasino system protocols.

Additionally, the printer 106 may be configured to require a validationby a player when certain tickets are printed. Such player validation maybe needed for the casino to document its compliance with one or more taxreporting requirements, such as the providing of a player with a W-2Gform when appropriate. Such validation may occur by use of the validatoror otherwise.

Referring now to FIG. 3, in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a printer validation process is shown. Asdiscussed above, one mechanism by which this process is initiated (asper Operation 302) is upon a printer driver receiving a request to printa ticket, such as a coupon, from a casino management system 118 server.Other scenarios in which this process may be implemented include on aperiodic basis, such as a regular verification may occur between anEnhanced Services system 128 server and a printer 106, that such printeris properly configured and licensed to provide printing services,including basic services such as the printing of a coupon and premiumservices, such as the printing of a lottery ticket or otherwise.

As used herein, a premium printing service is defined to be a printingservice provided in conjunction with the use of a printer 104 in agaming cabinet 114 or otherwise in a casino that is provided inaccordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure andwhich uses one or more features or functions of an Enhanced Servicessystem server (which may be embodied as an application residing onanother server) and results in a transfer to a patron or player of aprinted ticket, such as a lottery ticket, that is redeemable by at leastone third party operated system. As further used herein, a basicprinting service is defined to be a printing service provided inconjunction with the use of a printer 104 in a gaming cabinet 114 orotherwise in a casino that is provided in accordance with at least oneembodiment of the present disclosure and which does not require the useof one or more of the features and functions of an Enhanced Servicessystem server or application and results in a transfer to a patron orplayer of a printed ticket, such as a drink coupon, that is redeemableonly by use of a casino property that is owned, operated, co-located orotherwise affiliated with a casino to provide certain goods and servicessuch as food, retail, lodging and entertainment goods and services. Itis to be appreciated that for at least one embodiment, basic printingservices may include the generation of “tickets” compliant with one ormore tax reporting requirements.

Once initiated, the process continues with a determination of whetherthe given printer is enabled (Operation 304). It is to be appreciatedthat this Operation 304 may occur on a requested basis or periodically.Status checks and other known techniques for verifying the operationalstatus of a connected device may be used in accordance with thisOperation 304. It is to be appreciated that this determination ofwhether the printer 106 is enabled may be accomplished by the printdriver as provided by either the peripheral controller 104, whenconfigured in the smart device mode, or the Enhanced Services system 128server when the peripheral controller 104 is either configured in thepass-through mode or is not included in the gaming cabinet 114.

If the printer is not enabled, the process flow continues for at leastone embodiment of the present disclosure with the “no” option andOperation 306 a. In Operation 306 a, a determination is made as towhether the Enhanced Services system 128 server is available. It is tobe appreciated that, for at least one embodiment, this operation ofverifying whether the Enhanced Services system 128 server is availableoccurs regardless of the configuration and/or presence of the peripheralcontroller 104. For at least one embodiment, the Enhanced Servicessystem 128 server is the device provided in system 100 for granting,verifying, refreshing and revoking licenses for printers 106 andvalidators 108. Per Operation 306 a, the determination of whether theEnhanced Services system 128 server is available continues until theserver is available or a time-out or other type of interrupt event (notshown) occurs.

When the system 128 server is available, the process continues inOperation 308 a with a determination as to whether a license isavailable for use by the requested printer. In accordance with at leastone embodiment, the Enhanced Services system 128 server may beconfigured to determine whether a license is available for a givenprinter based on any number of factors, including for example, thenumber of licensed printers used with the system 100, the performancehistory (for example, number of jams) for a given printer, the versionof the printer, whether the printer's firmware is current or dated, thenumber of print job requested by an EGM, such as over the primary port,or by other system components, such as via a secondary or other port,the dynamic linked library (DLL) version being used by the printer, theprinter device state, and any other desired parameter or metric.

If it is determined that a license is not available for the requestedprinter, the process continues in Operation 310 with designating,flagging, virtually connecting or other disabling the secondary printerport 111 on the printer 106. It is to be appreciated that the disablingof the secondary printer port 111 may not affect the use of the printerin accordance with the primary printer port 110. That is, the EGM 102may use the printer 106 for routine and/or basic print jobs manageddirectly by the EGM itself. After the secondary printer port 111 isdisabled, the process ends (as per Operation 312).

Referring again to Operation 304, for at least one embodiment, when itis determined that the printer 106 is enabled, the process continuesalong the “yes” path to Operation 314. In Operation 314, a determinationis made as to whether the printer 106 is currently being used. Thisdetermination may arise, for example, in a scenario where the EGM 102 iscommunicating with the printer using the primary printer port 110, whilethe Enhanced Services system 128 server or the peripheral controller 104is seeking to use the printer via messages communicated over thesecondary printer port 111. If the printer 106 is busy and an unfinishedprint job needs to be exited, the process continues with Operation 316where the existing print job is voided and a reprint job is initiated.It is to be appreciated that for at least one embodiment, this void andreprint process places a priority on print jobs communicated to aprinter 106 via the secondary printer port 111 over print jobscommunicated to the printer from the EMG 102 via the primary printerport 110. The process then continues with Operation 306 b.

As per the “no” path flowing from Operation 314, if the printer 106 isnot engaged in an unfinished print job, the process continues withOperations 306 b and 308 b.

For at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, Operations 306 band 308 b function respectively the same as Operations 306 a and 308 a.

In Operations 308 a and 308 b, when it is determined that a license isavailable for the printer 106, the process continues with Operation 318and the licensing of the printer. In accordance with at least oneembodiment, the licensing of the printer 106 by the Enhanced Servicessystem 128 server entails an exchange of a “token.” For at least oneembodiment, the token is an encrypted data packet that includes a datapacket revision number, a device type, a customer ID, an enable featureID, an enable duration (which may vary by feature and may be specifiedin a number of days, a number of uses or otherwise), a number ofinstallations permitted under a single license, a number of userspermitted, a number of offline prints permitted, a duration of offlineprints permitted and any other desired parameter. It is to beappreciated that other parameters may be utilized in a token inaccordance with other embodiments of the present disclosure. Forexample, in one embodiment a license token may include the followingfields shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Field Size Initial value Description License 4-bytes [XX XX XXXX] Uniquely identifies this license ID to the JCM Licensing SystemLicense 2-bytes [00 00] Indicates the license key format Key EditionLicense 4-bytes [00 00 00 00] Reserved to include information Featuresenabling special features (0 initially) Random 8-bytes [XX XX XX XX] Toincrease randomness of the Data license. CRC 2-bytes [XX XX] CRC of theprior Bytes

Referring again to FIG. 3, once the printer 106 is licensed, the processcontinues in Operations 320, and 322 with checking whether the DLLversion on the printer is the same as the DLL version stored on theserver. If the versions are not the same, in Operation 324, a downloadis communicated from the Enhanced Services system 128 server to theprinter 106 and the DLL on the printer is updated.

In Operations 326, and 328, the process continues with a determinationas to whether the template package to be used by the printer 106 toprint the requested ticket is current. If the package is not current,the process continues with Operation 330 and the template package on theprinter 106 is updated. It is to be appreciated that Operations 326,328, 330 and the update of template packages may be flagged forexecution in part presently, such as with respect to only the templatethen needed by the printer to print the requested coupon, and forexecution later of any remaining templates that are not present or areotherwise out of date, deficient, defective, or are to be added,amended, or deleted. The process then continues with Operation 332.

In Operation 332, the printer 106 designated as being ready to processprint requests communicated to the printer 106 via the secondary printerport 111 at which instance the process ends in Operation 312.

As shown in FIG. 4 and in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure, a schematic representation of system 400 is depictedwherein a casino system 401 includes at least one EGM 402 configured tocommunicate directly, i.e., with the use of a peripheral controller (notshown) or indirectly, i.e., with the use of a peripheral controller,with one or more casino system 402 servers 404 a-404 n over at least oneof a plurality of respective first and second data connections 403 and405 a-405 n using a first network 406. The system 400 may furtherinclude one or more communications mediums 407 which may be used tocommunicatively couple casino system 401 components, via the firstnetwork 406, and a second network 408. In at least one embodiment, thesecond network 408 and the third-party components 410 a-n connectedthereto are logically remote and in many cases physically reside atlocations external to the logical and physical locations of casinosystem 401 components. One or more third party servers, systems ordevices may be connected permanently, temporarily or on an ad-hoc basisto the second network 408 and thereby to the first network 406 andthereby to one or more components of the casino system 401. Examples ofthird party servers, systems and/or devices which may be used tocommunicatively connect to the second network 408 and with respect towhich one or more components of the casino system 401 may becommunicatively coupled include, but are not limited to, third partyservers 410 a-410 n, such as lottery server 410 a and fantasy sportsserver 410 n.

Each of the first network 406 and the second network 408 may use anyknown or later arising networking technologies, topologies,communications mediums, protocols, and the like to establish andfacilitate the interchange of data between two or more components. Inaccordance with at least one embodiment, the first network 406 is anEthernet type network and the second network 408 is the Internet. Eachof these networks 406 and 408 and the respective first, second and thirddata connections 403, 405 a-n, and 409 a-n provided therebetween mayutilize any known or later arising communications technologies, mediums,standards, protocols, devices, systems, and the like. In at least oneembodiment, first data connection 403 utilizes one or more wirelesscommunications technologies, such as Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth whilerespective second and third data connections 405 a-n and 409 a-n utilizewired communications technologies.

As further shown in FIG. 4 the EGM 402 includes a browser component 412that is communicatively coupled, for example, using an EGM system bus413, to an EGM core 414. The EGM core 414 is communicatively coupledusing fourth data connection 415 to a validator 416. As shown for theembodiment depicted in FIG. 4, the EGM 402 and validator 416 may both bephysically located in a single gaming cabinet 418. In other embodiments,the validator 416 may be provided separately from the EGM 402.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the validator 416 may becommunicatively coupled to the first network 406 and the components ofthe casino system 401 using a separate, and fifth data connection 420.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, the validator 416 may becommunicatively connected via an optional sixth data connection 422 witha player's personal device 424. While not shown in FIG. 4, it is to beappreciated that the player's personal device 424 may be communicativelycoupled to one or more components connected to the first network 406,such as casino management system server 404 b, and/or to one or morecomponents connected to the second network 408, using any known wirelesscommunications technologies.

In accordance with at least one embodiment wherein the EGM is configuredto communicate directly with one or more casino system servers 404 a-n,the EGM core 414 may be configured to provide the device driverfunctionalities described above as being provided by the peripheralcontroller and/or by the Enhanced Services system server 404 a. Suchfunctionalities include, but are not limited to, licensing of a givenvalidator, health monitoring, metrics monitoring, currency exchangesetting management and other functions. It is to be appreciated thatvalidator 416 may be configured to communicate with such an EGM coreusing a second data port, such as the secondary validator port 113discussed above with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 1. Likewise,validator 416 may be configured to communicate with the EGM 402 withrespect to the providing of other, non-premium services, such as thosecommonly provided by EGMs that are not communicatively connected to anEnhanced Services system server 404 or a server providing one or morefeatures and functions provided by an Enhanced Services system server404 as discussed herein with respect to one or more of the embodimentsof the present disclosure.

As depicted by the dashed (indicating optional) lines of the fifth dataconnection 420, it is to be appreciated that for at least oneembodiment, a validator 416 may be configured to provide premiumservices by communicatively coupling, via for example the first network,directly with one or more casino system servers 404 a-n, where“directly” here means that the premium feature data signals used toprovide premium features and functions at a given validator 416 proceedby use of a data connection that is not routed by or through an EGM 402or a peripheral controller (not shown in FIG. 4). It is to beappreciated that such an embodiment enables the use of validators 416capable of providing premium features even when an EGM 402 and/or aperipheral controller is not configured to support or is not capable ofsupporting the providing of such premium features and functions by agiven validator 416.

As further shown in FIG. 4 and discussed above, for at least oneembodiment, the system 400 may be configured to support the use of aplayer's personal device 424, such as a smart phone or tablet. Theplayer's personal device 424 may be configured to execute one or moresoftware applications that provide premium features and functions thatotherwise may not be supportable by a given EGM 402 and/or by a givengaming cabinet 418. For example, an EGM 402 may not be configurable topresent information regarding a premium feature, such as the ability tointeract with a lottery system using a user interface, on a displayprovided by a given EGM. Providing functionality which enables a playerto interact with a lottery system to pick lottery numbers for one ormore upcoming lottery games is one example of a premium feature orfunction. Other examples of premium features include, but are notlimited to, providing a pari-mutual betting user interface, providing afantasy sports user interface, providing sports betting user interfaces,generating documents in compliance with one or more tax reportingrequirements, and others. FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a premiumfeature user interface 500 which enables a player to access a premiumfeature using a validator 416.

More specifically and as shown for the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5,a premium feature user interface 500 may include a visual representationof one or more premium features, such as the ability to pick lotterynumbers and purchase a lottery ticket that is printed using a validator416. As shown, the premium feature user interface 500 may include forpresentation on a display device an EGM game window 502 configured topresent the game play commonly associated with a given EGM game. Forexample, the EGM game window 502 may be configured to present a visualrepresentation of a slot machine, a video poker game, or otherinformation commonly associated with EGMs. The premium feature userinterface 500 may also include an EGM betting/betting results window504. This window 504 may be configured to present to a player bettingrelated information, such as betting options, points remaining on theplayer's account, results of a given game turn and other commonlyprovided information. It is to be appreciated that EGM game window 502and EGM betting/betting results window 504 may be configured to occupyany portion of an EGM's visual display areas, including a full-screenrepresentation, and/or occupying separate areas when multiple displayareas are presented.

As further shown in FIG. 5, a premium feature user interface 500 mayalso be configured to include one or more windows/display areas thatrelate to one or more premium features. Such display areas may includeone or more menu items that may be presented in any desired displaycontext, sizing, and position. It is to be appreciated that premiumfeature windows may be presented temporarily or permanently. Thetemporal nature and the sizing and other characteristics used for anygiven premium feature user interface may be specified by casinooperators in advance and/or determined real-time based upon one or morerules engines. Such rules engines may be configured to present differentpremium feature user interfaces to different players based on, forexample, the user's profile including their betting profile, whetherthey are a member of casino's playing club, the level of membership, theamount then being wagered, randomly and/or any based on any factor orcriteria desired at any time by a casino operator.

In one embodiment, the premium feature user interface 500 may include apremium feature navigation window 506. Such window 506 may be configuredto enable a player (also referred to herein as a user, and a user mayalso be a casino operator or any other person) to select from one ormore premium features, such as those previously mentioned above andothers. The window 506 may be configured, in accordance with at leastone embodiment, to enable a user to select menu options that relate to auser's preferences, demographics, and otherwise. In one embodiment, apremium user interface may enable a user to provide financialinformation, such as social security and other information useful forIRS and other governmental body reporting obligations and otherinformation. It is to be appreciated that such financial information maybe permanently, temporarily or on some other basis stored by anycomponent of casino system 132/401.

As further shown in FIG. 5 with respect to at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a premium feature user interface 500 may includea premium feature branding window 508, wherein a casino operator, apremium feature provider or other entities may provide one or morebranding, marketing, advertising, or other messages. It is to beappreciated that such window 508 may also be configured to providesports scores, text messages, video messages and other information thatmay be particular to or of interest to a given player at that time. Itis to be appreciated that the providing of such a premium featuredesirably enables a casino to otherwise extend a player's involvement ina given EGM that might otherwise be lost.

As further shown in FIG. 5 with respect to at least one embodiment ofthe present disclosure, a premium feature user interface 500 may includea premium feature window 510. As shown for the lottery example of FIG.5, the premium feature window 510 may be configured to presentinformation specific to the premium feature—here, the ability to selectlottery game numbers and purchase a lottery ticket using a validator416.

As discussed above, at least one embodiment of the present disclosureenables a casino operator to present premium features using EGMs thatare otherwise not configurable or with respect to which a casinooperator does not desire to so configure to present one or more ofwindows 506, 508 and 510. Instead, for such an embodiment, a casinooperator may enable a player to access the information otherwise to bepresented to the player using one or more of windows 506, 508 and 510 byutilizing their personal communications device, such as a smart phone,tablet, smart-watch or other type of portable computing device. Per suchan embodiment, one or more of windows 506, 508 and 510 may be presentedusing an application program executing on the personal device, where theapplication program is communicatively coupled with one or more of thecasino system's servers. The presence of a given player relative to agiven validator (and thereby to a given EGM and/or gaming cabinet) maybe established and periodically verified using NCF, Bluetooth, GPS,and/or other position determination technologies.

FIG. 6 illustrates a validator enablement protocol sequence whereby avalidator may seek enablement and/or re-enablement from an EnhancedServices system server or application. It is to be appreciated that avalidator needs to be licensed and enabled to provide one or morepremium features with respect to at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure. In accordance with at least one embodiment, at least onevalidator premium feature function involves the use of a secondaryvalidator port to provide one or more premium features. To provide suchpremium features, a bill validator may need to exchange a token with theEnhanced Services system server to enable the secondary validator portand the premium features associated therewith before such premiumfeatures may be used. In accordance with at least one embodiment, avalidator may, after being enabled, also periodically exchange a token(a “blob”) with the Enhanced Services system server. Examples of premiumfeatures that may need to be enabled and re-enabled by a validatorinclude, but are not limited to, secondary port redemption ofpromotional vouchers, lottery tickets, betting tickets, currencies notrecognized by a given EGM using its primary port and firmware downloads.

In accordance with at least one embodiment, when a validator 108 beginscommunicating, and periodically thereafter, with an Enhanced Servicessystem server or application 128, for example, using the secondaryvalidator port 113, a validator enablement protocol is invoked. As shownin FIG. 6, this protocol 600 begins with a “BlobRequired” message 602being communicated from a validator 108 to a validator driver 102 which,as discussed above, may be provided in a peripheral controller 104, anEGM 102, or as an application executed by a casino system 132 server,such as the casino management system 118 or the Enhanced Services system128 servers. Periodically thereafter, a validator may send a “BlobReady”message, where the “BlobReady” status indicates that the validator 108needs to exchange a data blob with the Enhanced Services system 128server. Examples of such data blob include, but are not limited to,token updates, metrics transfers, status updates, and other informationregarding the operation, status or other condition of a validator 108.Further, for at least one embodiment, when premium features are enabledon the validator, but the license associated with such validator will beexpiring soon, the validator may be configured to communicate a“BlobReady” message indicating the soon to expire status of the presentlicense provided to the validator 108. Likewise, when premium featuresare not yet enabled, or have expired, the validator may be configured tocommunicate the “BlobRequired” status message to the component (e.g.,the EMG) then providing the validator driver functionalities. For atleast one embodiment, while a “BlobRequired” status message is pending,the validator may be configured to disallow the use and/or providing ofone or more premium features.

As further shown in FIG. 6 for at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the component providing the validator driver functionalities(the EMG 102 in this example) will determine whether a current, validblob is available. If so, the blob is transmitted to the validator 108in a message, such as message 604. The validator 108 is then configuredto transmit the blob to the EGM whenever use of a premium feature is tobe provided, as per message 606.

The EMG 102 then appends to the blob message 606 information thatuniquely identifies the validator providing the blob, for example, byproviding an asset number and/or other data utilized for a givenembodiment to enable and/or verify a validator is then enabled toprovide one or more premium features. This modified message 608 iscommunicated to the Enhanced Services application, which in accordancewith at least one embodiment is executing on the Enhanced Servicessystem 128 server.

The Enhanced Services application then determines whether the receivedmodified message 608 identifies a validator that is then currentlylicensed to provide the requested premium feature(s). If so, anacknowledgement message 610 is communicated from the Enhanced Servicesapplication to the validator driver, executing for example on the EGM102.

The validator driver then communicates a “Xmit Blob” message 612 to thevalidator 108. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the Xmit Blobmessage includes a blob received from the Enhanced Services applicationand a second blob provided by the validator driver itself. In short, forat least one embodiment of the present disclosure, two levels ofauthorizations, as represented by Blobs, are required to enable premiumfeatures on a validator with a first of such levels of authorizationbeing provided by an Enhanced Services system server/application and asecond of such levels of authorization being provided by a validatordriver. As shown, the process continues with the validator 108communicating an acknowledgement message 614 to the validator driver andperiodically thereafter communicating an “idle” status message 616 tothe validator driver, where the “idle” message indicates that thevalidator is enabled and ready to accept tickets. The periodicity of theidle status message 616 may be configured in accordance with thepreferences of any given casino operator or system.

Other types of messages a system may use in communicating informationand licenses by and between a validator driver and/or an EnhancedServices system server or application include, but are not limited to:

-   -   a) status change messages;    -   b) Bulk Blob Ready messages, which indicate that a validator has        data to transmit to the validator driver and/or Enhanced        Services system server/application;    -   c) Download Ready messages, which indicate that the Enhanced        Services server has a download ready to communicate to the        validator;    -   d) Power Up messages, which indicate that a validator has gone        through a power-up event, for example, in response to a prior        disruption of power;    -   e) Inhibit messages, which indicate that a given validator is        disabled;    -   f) Escrow messages, which indicate that a bill or ticket was        inserted and validated by the validator; where an escrow message        may also be configured to communicate the amount, the type and        other information regarding the validated ticket;    -   g) Vend Valid messages, which indicate that an item has been        fully stacked and credit should be given to a player;    -   h) Reject messages, which indicate that an item has been        rejected;    -   i) Return messages, which indicate a previously provided item,        such as a coupon, has been returned without being redeemed by        the player; and    -   j) Various other status messages, such as stacker full,        communications failure, download status, jams, stacker        condition, and otherwise.

It is to be appreciated that in at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure a message communicated by and between the validator, thevalidator driver and/or the Enhanced Services system server/applicationmay be repeated for any given number or attempts until anacknowledgement of receipt of such message by the final or intermediarydestinations is received by the sender of such message.

It is to be appreciated that one or more hardware and/or softwarecomponents commonly known in the art are utilized to establish andsupport the various data connections described herein. For purposes ofbrevity, such components, systems, protocols and the like are notdiscussed herein but the properties, capabilities, uses and technologiescommonly known and provided for use therewith are incorporated herein byreference, such technologies and corresponding hardware and/or softwaredevices and systems for facilitating use of such technologies includebut not limited to compression, encryption, error correction, dataconversion (e.g., from one protocol or format to another and vice versa)and other like.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a process by which a lottery premium featuremay be utilized in accordance with at least one embodiment of thepresent disclosure begins when a player interacts with an EGM (Operation700). It is to be appreciated for at least one premium featureembodiment, such as a lottery service, that a player may interact withan EGM by either selecting and purchasing a lottery ticket or redeeminga lottery ticket, which may have been purchased using the casino system132 or via a third party. In Operation 702, a determination is made asto whether a purchase or a redemption event is requested. In oneembodiment, this determination can be made by determining whether therequest is originating from a touch screen or another user interfaceprovided by an EMG or via a validator.

Assuming for this discussion that the player interaction has beeninitiated due to a purchase request, per Operation 704 the player ispermitted to select their desired game (when more than one lottery gameis available), desired numbers and number of tickets. In certainembodiments, a player may request a given set of numbers (which may begenerated automatically upon selection of a “quick pick” option) to beutilized in a given number of future arising lottery drawings.

Per Operation 706, the player's input selections are communicated to theEGM and, per Operation 708, then to the Casino Management System(“CMS”). Upon the request reaching the CMS, the CMS may perform varioushousekeeping functions, such as verifying that the user can participatein the given lottery game, that the player has sufficient points topurchase the requested lottery tickets, that the points arise from fundsoriginating from legitimate sources (such as wire transfer, currencydeposits, winnings and not from credit originating funds) and otherwise.

Per Operation 710 a, assuming the housekeeping verifications performedby CMS are acceptable, the CMS communicates the lottery ticketinformation to a lottery server 710 a.

Per Operation 712, the lottery server 710 a may either accept or rejectthe data received from the CMS. If the received data is not acceptable,the process terminates and messages are communicated using a returnpathway to the player at the EGM that the transaction could not becompleted. A basis for such rejection may be communicated to the playerin one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

If the lottery system accepts the request, in Operation 714, the lotterysystem communicates the information necessary to generate the lotteryticket to the CMS. It is to be appreciated that the informationnecessary to generate the lottery ticket may be encrypted and controlledby any known encryption, data protection and data transfer protocolsdesired.

In Operation 716, the CMS communicates the information received from thelottery system to the Enhanced Services system. In Operation 718, theEnhanced Services system communicates the accepted lottery ticketinformation to the printer and in Operation 720 the printer prints thelottery ticket and dispenses such lottery ticket to the player.

Referring again to Operation 702, at least one embodiment of the presentdisclosure enables the use of a validator to receive and redeempreviously purchased lottery tickets. When a redemption event occurs,the process proceeds from Operation 702 to Operation 722 where thevalidator marks the lottery ticket. Per Operation 724, the validatorthen communicates the details received from the lottery ticket to theCMS. It is to be appreciated that the lottery ticket details may berecovered from a lottery ticket using those technologies specified by alottery system administrator, such as using 2D data codes and othertechniques.

Per Operation 726, the CMS communicates the information retrieved by thevalidator to the Enhanced Services system. Per Operation 728, theEnhanced Services system provides encryption and image correctionprocesses to the received information and exports the results of theseand any other desired processes back to the CMS.

The Operations then proceed with Operation 710 b, which like Operation710 a involves the CMS communicating the lottery ticket information tothe lottery system server for processing thereby. As per Operations712-718 discussed above, the lottery system server performs whateververifications required, communicates the results to the CMS and whenredemption of a valid lottery ticket has been requested communicates amessage to the CMS indicating the amount to be dispensed. Thisinformation is, in turn, communicated to the printer which dispenses thewinning proceeds to the player 730 in the form of a TITO ticket or anupdating of a balance on a pre-existing TITO ticket or an accountassociated with the player. It is to be appreciated that the abovedescription of a process flow for utilizing a premium lottery servicefeature may be utilized in conjunction with the providing of otherpremium features with any variations required thereto commonlypredicated on the particular needs and requirements of a provider ofsuch other premium feature.

In some implementations, articles of manufacture are provided ascomputer program products that cause the instantiation of operations ona computer system to implement the invention. One implementation of acomputer program product provides a non-transitory computer programstorage medium readable by a computer system and encoding a computerprogram. It should further be understood that the described technologymay be employed in special purpose devices independent of a personalcomputer. The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the structure and use of the various embodiments of theinvention as defined in the claims.

Although various embodiments of the claimed invention have beendescribed above with a certain degree of particularity, or regarding oneor more individual embodiments, those skilled in the art could makenumerous alterations to the disclosed embodiments without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments aretherefore contemplated. It is intended that all matter contained in theabove description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall beinterpreted as illustrative only of particular embodiments and notlimiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departingfrom the basic elements of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for providing premium features to aplayer of an electronic gaming machine in a casino environmentcomprising: the electronic gaming machine, configured to provide atleast one gaming experience to the player; a peripheral controllercommunicatively coupled to the electronic gaming machine; a printercommunicatively coupled, via a primary printer port, with the electronicgaming machine; whereby, via use of the primary printer port, theprinter is configured to provide at least one basic printing service tothe player; wherein the printer is communicatively coupled, via asecondary printer port, with a printer driver application; whereby, viause of the secondary printer port, the printer is configured to provideat least one premium printing service to the player; a validatorcommunicatively coupled, via a primary validator port, with theelectronic gaming machine; whereby, via use of the primary validatorport, the validator is configured to provide at least one basicvalidation service to the player; wherein the validator iscommunicatively coupled, via a secondary validator port, with avalidator driver application; whereby, via use of the secondaryvalidator port, the validator is configured to provide at least onepremium validation service to the player; a casino management systemserver configured to manage the granting and redeeming of player points;an Enhanced Services system server configured to license and manage theproviding of the at least one premium printing service and the at leastone premium validation service to the player; a first networkcommunicatively interconnecting each of the peripheral controller, thecasino management system and the Enhanced Services system server; atleast one third party server providing a premium feature; and at leastone second network communicatively interconnecting at least one of thecasino management system and the Enhanced Services system server withthe at least one third party server.
 2. The system of claim 1, whereinthe premium validation service is a lottery service.
 3. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the peripheral controller is a smart device and theprinter driver application is executed by the peripheral controller. 4.The system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral controller is apass-through device and the printer driver application is executed on atleast one of the casino management system server and the EnhancedServices system server.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein thefunctionalities provided by the peripheral controller and incorporatedinto the electronic gaming machine and the printer driver applicationare executed by the electronic gaming machine.